Dr Thalia Arawi joins Ethics Talk to discuss the rise of states of “chronic emergency,” how health care workers can be protected when working in conflict zones, and how the international community needs to move beyond declarations to support those affected by war and conflict.
There are few situations in which the standard of care is so clear-cut as to preclude physician judgment. Assessing the degree of need (not just the standard of care) when asking a patient to spend money requires judgment.
Physicians have a duty to learn the facts and use their medical expertise to allay patients' fears rather than order unnecessary tests when a certain disease or condition receives a great deal of media coverage.